Portable shower-bath apparatus



(No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 1.

W. E. DOBBINS.

PORTABLE SHOWBRBATH APPARATUS. I v No. 532,267. Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

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. PORTABLE SHOWER BATH APPARATUS. I

N0. 532,267. Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

NITED STATES PATENT rice. if

\VILLIAM E. DOBBINS, OF ASIIBOIIRNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTABLE SHOWER-BATH APPARATUS.

SPEGIZFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,267, dated January8, 1 895.

Application filed July 28,1894. Serial No. 513:840, (No model.)

To aZZ whom. it may concern.-

Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inPortable Shower- Bath Apparatus, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

. My invention has relation to shower bath apparatus, and consists inthe device hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide a portable apparatus for showerbath purposes which may be readily folded in a neat, compact form andreadily applied above any bath tub for shower purposes, having aninclosing water-proof screen open at the top and bottom and surroundingthe person con finingthe splash within the screen and preventingdamageto the surrounding walls and floor.

I am aware that inclosing water proof screens for shower purposes haveheretofore been known and used, and do not claim such screen broadly, myinvention residing in the structure hereinafter particularly describedand claimed. r

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is a partially sectional view ofthe apparatus in position above the bath tub, and ready for Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the collapsible distending frame, in the preferredform, open. Fig. 3 shows the distending rods removed and the framepartially collapsed. Fig. 4 represents the frame and screen rolled in acompact portable form. When rolled more loosely the distending arms,flexible pipe and douche may be included in the roll in the compactbundle. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the perforated side of the preferredform of spiral douche, and Fig. 6 a sectional view of the same. Fig. Zrepresentsa modified construction of distending arms as applied to thecollapsible frame.

The supporting frame is preferably con- .structed of the two flexiblebands, A, A, hinged or pivoted together at a, a, and adapted to form acircle or oval when distended. The rods, 1), are provided with hookedends adapted to be inserted in orifices in the bands,

A, A, so that when in position, as shown in Fig. 2, the bands will becircularly distended and prevented from collapsing. The rods, 1), may bereadily unhooked and the bands, A, A, sprung together upon their hingedjoints when it is desired to transport the apparatus, and the materialcomposing the screen may be rolled upon it inclosing also the otherparts of the apparatus.

In the preferable construction, shown in Fig. 2, the rods, 19, arecentrally secured upon a center disk or plate, A having a keyed centralorifice, a In this construction, as shown in Fig. 2, the hooks on theouter ends of the rods, 27, which rods are loosely jointed to the plate,A engagein the flexible bands, A, A, and hold them in their distendedcircular, or oval, position. When it is desired to collapse the framethe rods, 1), are disconnected from the bands, A, A, and folded togetherupon the plate, A so as to occupy but little space. The frame issuspended through the medium of chains or cords, such as c, secured tothe bands, A, A, and connected to a central chain, or cord, 0, which isdesigned. to be secured to a hook provided in the ceiling. The douche,D, when a part of portable frame, is adjustably secured centrallybetween the bands, A, A",

upon the distending mechanism, and when the apparatus is to be appliedto a fixed douche provided above the bath the supporting frame is soadjusted upon it by means of the suspending cord that the douche willoccupy a central position in or about the bands, A, A.

In the preferable construction the douche, D, has provided upon itsupper face a key or oblong projection, d, adapted to fit in the slots, aa, provided in the plate, A so that after being inserted a half turnwill key it in position and hold it securely to the under side of theplate, A

When the construction shown in Fig. 7 is employed the douche, D, maybecentrally secured in position upon the distending rods, 6, by anysuitable means, such as by loops, f, secured to the upper part of thedouche, D, through which the rods, 19, are passed before being hookedinto the hands, A, A. I preferably construct the douche in a spiralform, as shown in the drawings, thus securing better water pressureresults by this construction,

though any ordinary form of douche may be employed. A flexible rubberhose, 1), is connected with the douche, D, of sufficient length toconnect it with the water spigots of the bath tub. To regulate thetemperature of the water, as in tubs where independent hot and coldwater spigots are employed, I provide at the lower end of the rubbertube, 12, a Y having flexible rubber hose upon its branches so as toconnect with the respective spigots, though I do'not claim this as afeature of my invention. Upon the bands, A, A, I provide a screen ofwaterproof material, such as gossamer cloth, or thin sheet rubber, orlike material, preferably tubular in form, of a desired length to allowthe lower end to protrude into the tub. The screen is preferablyprovided with a slit extending from the bottom to about half to twothirds the length of the screen to facilitate getting in and out of thescreen. I preferably provide a seam circumferentially around the lowerend of the screen and fill the same with shot, or like material, forweighting the same in order to allow the screen to better retain itsposition. The screen, E, is secured at the upper end to the bands, A, A,in any suitable manner, as by sewing through perforations provided inthe lower edge of the bands, or by any other desired method.

As before stated my invention in its portable construction is adapted tobe applied either to a fixed shower or to include Within its combinationa portable shower in itself having combined frame, screen, distendingmechanism, douche and flexible hose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. A portable shower apparatus consisting of a detachable douche,folding distending bands, detachable distending mechanism for distendingsaid bands and for centrally sup: porting said douche, and a water-proofscreen open at top and bottom and secured to said distending bands,substantially as described.

2. Aportable folding shower apparatus consisting in a flexible tubularwater-proof screen open at top and bottom, a hinged distending bandprovided in the upper end of said screen, detachable distendin gmechanism adapted to said band for distending the same, detachabledouche adapted to be centrally supported within said band when distendedupon said distending mechanism, and a flexible hose connected with saiddouche, substantially as described.

3. In a portable shower apparatus, an elongated tubular water screen offlexible waterproof material, collapsible distending band provided uponthe upper edge of said screen, and removable rods adapted to said bandsfor distending the same, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a tubular elongated water screen composed of thinflexible waterproof material, a folding distending flexible bandprovided in the upper end of the screen adjustable distending mechanismfor distending said band and holding the screen open at top and meansfor suspending said band to the ceiling, substantially as described.

5. Afolding portable shower apparatus consisting of the bands, A, A,hinged as at a, a, distending rods, 1), adj ustably secured to saidbands, A, A, and tubular water-proof screen secured to the lower edge ofsaid bands, substantially as described.

6. In a portable shower apparatus, collapsible distending bands, A, A,hinged as at a, a, detachable distending rods, b, and tubular flexiblescreen secured to the bands, A, A, and shot weighted at its lower endsin a seam provided for the purpose, substantially as described.

7. A portable folding showerapparatus consisting of hinged collapsibleflexible bands, A, A, hinged as at a, a, detachable distending mechanismconsisting of a central plate, A and rods, b, secured thereto adapted toengage in said bands, douche, D, and means for keying said douche tosaid plate, a flexible rubber hose secured to said douche and flexiblewater-proof screen provided upon the distending bands, A, A, weighted atits lower end, and means for suspending said band and screen,substantially as described.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July, A.D. 1894.

WILLIAM E. DOBBINS.

Witnesses:

'ERNEST LOWENGRUND, JNO. E. PARKER.

